Postage-stamp carrier and applier.



Patented Jan. 14,1902.

-J. H. LASSEBOT.- POSTAGE STAMP GABRI ER AND APPLIEB.

(Applicayioh filed Apr. 27, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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HNEYS ore-Lima" WASHINGTON n c UN-iTED STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HENRY LASSEROT, or BE ELEY, CALIFORNIA.

POSTAGE-STAM P CARRIER AND. APPLIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 691,277, dated January14, 1902.

Application filed April 27, 1901.

To all whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OHN HENRY LASSEROT, residing at Berkeley, in thecounty of Alameda and State of California, have invented a new andImproved Postage-Stamp Carrier and Applier, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention seeks to provide a simple, inexpensive, and easily-handleddevice which will carry a number of superimposed stamps and adapted topress the outermost one against the article to be mailed and apply thestamp without making handling thereof necessary.

Generally my invention comprehends a holder of a size to hold the stampsin a superimposed position, a plunger device operating therein forpressing the entire bulk of stamps outward, and means for controllingthe outermost ones of the bulk or layer of stamps, so that but one, theone being stuck, will pull out of the holder or casing, said controllingmeans including a novel construction of fingers adapted to keep theunder or glue face of the stamp from adhering thereto during theoperation of applying the stamps.

In its more complete form my invention embodies, in connection with theholder, the plunger, and the guide or stain p-engaging fingers on theopen end of the holder, a cap-plate adapted to fit over the finger endof the holder and provided with inwardly-projecting hook members forengaging the block of stamps and lift the lowermost ones up fromengagement with the hooks, whereby to overcome danger of any of thelowermost ones of the stamps adhering to the hooks by reason of moisturethereon.

In its more subordinate features myinven tion consists in certain novelfeatures of construction and peculiar combination of parts hereinafterfirst described in detail and then specifically pointed out in theappended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of myimprovement with the cap applied. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the sameslightly inverted and with the cap removed. Fig. 3 is a verticallongitudinal section taken practically on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4is a vertical transverse section of the same.

'with their gummed face down.

Serial No. 57,782. (No model.)

Fig. 5 is a view showing the hinged top opened and the plunger elevatedfrom the holder. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the cap-piece. Fig. 7 is aside elevation illustrating the manner in which the stamp is attached tothe envelop.

Fig. 8 is a view of a modified form of my invention hereinafter referredto. Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing the plunger to its raisedposition, the stamp-pack expanded, and the stamp attached to a sheet.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, in which like numeralsindicate like parts in all the figures, 1 represents a box or casingwhich has the form and size in horizontal section of an ordinarypostage-stamp and is of a suitable height so that a pack of stamps canlie flatwise therein without bending the edges against the side walls ofthe box. A cover-plate'2 is hinged to one edge of the top of the casingto close thereover and to hold it secure. Said cover-plate 2 has aspring-latch 2 to engage a locking-lug 1 on the casing, as clearly shownin Fig. 2. Projected vertically up from the plate 2 is a tubular shank3, through which passes a plunger-rod 4, slidably held on the shank 3and normally movedto its upper or elevated position by a coiled spring5, held within the shank 3 and surrounding the rod 4. Upon the upper endthe rod 4 has a pressing-knob 4*, and at its lower end it carries acurved plunger-plate 6, the purpose of which will pres-- ently appear.The lower edge of the opposite ends 1 1 of the boX has pendent hooks 77, the extremities of which are bent inward at right angles, as at 7 7,and the sides of the box have pendent straight guide-fingers 8 8, theends of which are pointed, as shown;

The two sets of hooks 7 and guides 8 are rela- I tively so arranged thatthe stamps will rest with their opposite ends on the angle members '7 ofthe hooks 7 and with their edges engaging the guide-fi ngers 8.

So far as described the operation of the parts referred to is asfollows: The box or holderis first filled with a package of stamps Thehinged cover together with the plunger devices are then adjusted totheir operative position. The spring action on the plunger causes theplunger member 4 to spring back and leaves the stamp-pack held looselypressed against the intiirned hooks 7.. To facilitate the adhesion ofthe stamps on the envelop or other surface to which they are to beattached, the member is made slightly convex in its longitudinal plane,so as to cause the central part of the stamp to engage the opposingsurface first, such curvature of the member 4 also serving to effect aperfectpulling away of such portions of the stamp that engage the hooks7 without tearing or mutilating the said ends. The bottom stamp having.been moistened, or, if desired, the surface to which it is to beapplied moistened, the user holds the box hetween the thumb and middlefinger and with the forefinger on the knob end of plunger sets the stampagainst the envelop or other surface. Pressure is then applied toplungerrod, which causes member 6 to compress the block of stamps, andin consequence presses the entire gummed surface of the stamp and movesthe edges in engagement with the books 7 firmly against the envelop.Pressure on the plunger-rod 4 being now removed, the spring action drawsthe member 6 up in the box and allows the several stamps constitutingthe blockto expand, and thereby reduces danger of the stamps adhering toeach other to the minimum. By providing for firmly sticking the stampfirst at its center danger of the ends remaining on the hooks as thedevice is lifted is overcome, and to further provide against the stampedges adhering to the said hooks 7 the portions '1' are made rounded andtapered to a point to avoid flat surface.

9 designates a cap adapted to fit over the bottom end of the box 1 andis intended to cover said bottom when the device is not in use andcarried in the pocket,and it has springcatches 9 to engage lips ornotches 1 in the V box ends, as'shown.

- On the inside the cap 9 has one or more upwardly-projecting ribs 10,which serve to engage the bottom of the block of stamps and lift themaway from hooks 7, such operation being to positively prevent danger ofthe lowermost one of the stamps adhering to the hooks in case bycareless moistening of the stamp last applied the next stamp ispartially moistened at the edges. The ribs 10 also serve to keep theblock of stamps within the box proper and away from contact with thebooks 7 and guides 8.

In Fig. 8 is illustrated a modified form of in'yin'vention. In this formthe plunger-rod is fiat and made with notches 12, with which aspring-pawl 13 engages, said pawl being mounted on a rock-shaft andcooperates with the plunger to automatically move into a lockedengagement with the notches 12 and lock the plunger-rod to any of itsdepressed positions and hold plunger from going back.

By using the modified form of plunger devices the same can be used withany depth of box and stamps thereby held from turning over edgewisetherein. From the foregoing description, taken in connection with thedrawings, it is thought the advantages of my invention will readilyappear. Its construction is such as to admit of its being convenientlycarried in the pocket and quickly manipulated to apply the stamp, italso serving as a means for keeping the stamps in a safe and propercondition and always ready for being applied.

Changes in some of the details of construction may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

l. A device for the purposes described, comprising a box open atthebottom, the bottom having inturned members, a plunger movable in theboxand opposing theinturned members and means detachably mounted on thedelivery end of the box for forcing the stamps ofi the said inturnedmembers, for the purposes described.

2. A stamp holding and applying device consisting of a casing forholding the stamps, a plunger operating in the casing for ejecting thestamps, a spring for moving it outward, a hinged cover having a centralaperture through which the rod of the plunger passes, said rod and coverbeing movable together, the lower end of the casing having hooksprovided with inturned members for opposing the plunger, and a cap-plateadapted to be detachably fitted over the hook end of the casing, saidcap-plate having ribs for engaging the block of stamps, and pressingsaid block off the hook ends of the casing, substantially as shown andfor the purposes described.

JOHN HENRY LASSEROT.

Witnesses:

BENJ. BROGKHURST,

JOSEPH LASSEROT.

